UK tabloid hacked murder victim's phone

Euronews

A British newspaper has found itself in hot water after taking investigative journalism a step too far.

The News of the World is renowned for its imaginative tactics to get the latest scoops, such as having its reporters posing undercover and setting up secret cameras. However in their quest for an exclusive story, it has been revealed that some journalists have been using illegal methods to get stories, including phone tapping.

The NOTW, a tabloid which features celebrity and populist news, hacked the voicemails of celebrities including Sienna Miller, Jude Law as well as politicians. What has proved most controversial however is its use of phone hacking to break in to the voicemail of missing girl, Milly Dowler, who was later found murdered, and those of her parents.

Outrage has spread across the media, and the British PM David Cameron called it “a truly dreadful act”, adding that police “should pursue this in the most vigorous way that they can in order to get the truth about what happened.“

A spokesman for the family also said that the actions had hampered police investigations, and prevented them from getting through to their daughter’s phone.

This is a huge embarrassment for the already troubled paper, with many calling for a boycott by both readers and advertisers.

It has also been hinted that the take-over of BSkyB by the Rupert Murdoch-owned enterprise News International, which also owns the NOTW, could now be jeopardised by the revelation.